Softball coach jailed for sexual interference

KITCHENER — A Cambridge softball coach guilty of sexual interference involving two girls on his team was sentenced to jail Monday in Kitchener court.

The man briefly touched the breasts of the two girls in a swimming pool in the summer of 2010. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after a trial.

Justice Margaret Woolcott sentenced him to four months in jail and ordered him to provide a DNA sample and have no contact with anyone under 16. He will be on the sexual offenders registry for the rest of his life and on probation for two years.

A court order prohibits publication of information that might identify the victims. His name and age and the victims' ages are being withheld for that reason.

After the incident in the pool, one of the girls felt "betrayed" and began mistrusting men, Woolcott said. That caused a deterioration of her relationship with her father. At one point, the girl was suicidal and had to be hospitalized.

"The impact was absolutely devastating," the judge said.

She added the man breached the trust a coach has with players.

But she said he has a good reputation with his family and in the community.

"He is seen as a good man."

Defence lawyer Bruce Ritter said there is no evidence the man did anything like this before.